Remington’s New 1911 R1 Enhanced Commander

Remington has recently announced the release of their new 1911 R1 Enhanced Commander. The Remington Enhanced Commander is a combination of the time-honored Model 1911 design, match-grade components, and modern sight technology. Though Remington has just returned to the 1911 business, after nearly a 60 year absence, it is not their first go at manufacturing 1911 pistols. During WWII Remington made a significant impact in production, over 900,000 pistols, more than any other manufacturer.

Remington has not had a good 2nd decade in the 21st century so far. Recalls of the Model 887 shotgun, a trigger recall on the iconic Model 700 bolt-action rifle, and the horrible failure of the relaunch of the Federal Court ruling in their favor regarding a military order for M4 Carbines, and the continued success of other firearms, has provided Remington an opportunity for some major moves.

The 1911 R1 Enhanced Commander is a nice mid-size 1911.

Remington 1911 R1 Enhanced Commander

The Remington 1911 R1 Enhanced Commander is a mid-sized version of the original 1911 that was 8.25″ long. Taking the key features of the 1911, and the Commander version, the R1 Enhanced Commander adds a few enhancements that make this pistol a nice option as both an off-duty or on-duty firearm.

The Enhanced Commander has several nice features.

The 1911 R1 Enhanced Commander is made with a carbon steel slide and frame. The 4.25″ barrel is match-grade, and the trigger is a custom, adjustable skeletonized enhancement. The beavertail grip safety is extended for additional support during recoil, and the hammer is an advanced Commander-style serrated version.

I have shot a few 1911’s in my time, and have really enjoyed those experiences. However, I have not had the chance to shoot the Remington 1911 R1 Enhanced Commander to provide a decent review of how the features and advancements, line up with accuracy, fit, and overall function.

Extended beavertail, custom hammer, Novak-style rear sight are just a few features of the 1911 R1 Enhanced Commander.

The Model 1911 is now 105 years old, but the amazingly well designed John Browning pistol has been a fan favorite for all of those years. The American military used the pistol for 75 years as the primary handgun selection, before switching to the Beretta M9 during the mid 1980’s. Unfortunately, there were two driving forces for that decision:

The military’s 1911’s were beginning to show their age with wear

There was a desire to standardize with other NATO countries using 9mm.

The Model 1911 stayed in the military arsenals in limited use, usually with Special Operations units and even the Navy Seabees. Then recently, the U.S. Marine Corps got tired of the M9 and pushed to get the MARSOC 1911, that even some infantry units have fielded. Other Service Branches have considered moving away from the M9 as well, and the Army is full steam into another handgun selection trial.

On the civilian side of the firearms market, the Model 1911 has experienced an incredible resurgence of popularity. Everything from basic, original feature models, to high-end custom-built pistols, the 1911 is perhaps more in demand today than at any time in its history. Prices can range from $450 to well over $2000.

There are some law enforcement agencies that field the Model 1911, however most police forces have chosen semi-auto handguns that are striker fired and at least have twice the capacity of the 1911. Remington gave the 1911 R1 Enhanced Commander the larger 8-round capacity magazine, but with most semi-autos holding 15+ rounds it is hard to argue taking less rounds into the armed conflicts today’s law enforcement have been facing.

Regardless, the Remington 1911 R1 Enhanced Commander appears to be a very nice, well-built, and feature-packed 1911 pistol. At around $900, the Enhanced Commander is not inexpensive, but should still be competitive in the growing 1911 market.

Aaron is a sergeant with a midwestern police department, where he serves as a trainer, supervisor and SWAT sniper. In addition to his broad tactical knowledge, Aaron has experience in DUI, DRE and undercover narcotics investigations.